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The Perry County Community Foundation is announcing a free, public workshop featuring Stephen Ralph, consultant/trainer with aha! Process, utilizing the Bridges Out of Poverty Model, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.at the Tell City Depot in Tell City, Indiana. This workshop will consist of a comprehensive approach to understanding poverty. Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided. In 2019, the Perry County Community Foundation collected data, hosted community forums, and selected the cycle of poverty as its focus to more effectively utilize its discretionary grant dollars. Bridges Out of Poverty provides concrete tools and strategies for a community to understand, address, and alleviate poverty. This training assists community organizations, social service agencies, employers, and individuals in gaining insight and strategies toward creating economic stability for all. During the workshop, participants will gain an understanding of the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty from individual to systems levels. Registration is required to attend and must be received by Monday, May 20, 2024. Please visit this link to register: bit.ly/bridgesper Bestselling author Ruby K. Payne founded training and publishing company aha! Process in 1996 with the mission to enable individuals, institutions, and communities to stabilize and grow resources for all, particularly those in poverty. aha! Process works to achieve this mission by providing workshops, publications, and consulting services. For questions, please contact Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact with the Perry County Community Foundation at ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org or 812.547.3176.

The Perry County Community Foundation recently announced Community Good grants totaling $115,144.15 to twenty one organizations serving Perry County. This year’s grant recipients are: · American Red Cross Southwest Indiana Chapter was awarded $3,750 to support the collection of life-saving blood that will supply medical facilities serving Perry County residents. · Buffalo Trace Council-Boy Scouts of America was awarded $2,500 to promote youth education through Scouting's focus on Environmental Science and Career Exploration. · Catholic Charities Tell City was awarded $15,000 to fund emergency food resources distributed through the Perry County Food Pantry Coalition pantries. · Chemo Buddies was awarded $2,600 to provide comfort kits to Perry County cancer patients. · City of Cannelton was awarded $8,100 to restore the Wilbur mausoleum located in Old Cliff Cemetery. · Crisis Connection, Inc. was awarded $4865.69 to provide advocacy support to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Perry County. · Deaconess Hospital Foundation was awarded $3,000 to provide mammography screening, mammography education, and other screening services to underinsured or uninsured women in Perry County. · Glory Bees Preschool was awarded $8,078.46 to add additional classroom staff to the 2024- 2025 school year. · Junior Achievement of West Kentucky, Inc. was awarded $5,000 to for Soft Skills & Financial Literacy programs that will deliver soft skills programs for high school students, who will then hone those new skills through service learning in elementary classrooms. · Junior Achievement of West Kentucky, Inc. was awarded $3,000 for Work Readiness & Financial Empowerment programs for 8th grade students in Perry County to discover future careers, and learn the correlation between educational attainment and future financial stability. · Lincoln Hills Development Corporation was awarded $3,000 for the purchase of heavy-duty evacuation cribs. · Perry Central Community School Corporation was awarded $7,000 to update the school greenhouse to provide food for the school cafeteria, local food banks and community members. · Perry Central Education Foundation was awarded $4,000 to assist with the replacement of the roof and HVAC of the Leopold Conservation Club building so that it can be restored to be used as a community gathering place and resource for charitable organizations, such as the Perry Central Education Foundation, and other nonprofits. · Perry County Council on Aging was awarded $7,500 toward the purchase of a vehicle for the senior center activities program. · Perry County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $7,500 to establish and implement a K9 Unit Program · Shubael Little Pioneer Village Inc. was awarded $9,000 to enhance the visual welcoming into the village. · Tell City Historical Society was awarded $4,500 to develop and digitize keyword searchable archives of the Perry County newspapers in partnership with the Perry County Public Library. · Tell City Jr.-Sr. High School was awarded $2,150 to create an event called “Empty Bowls” to raise awareness and donate to local food pantries. · Tell City Police Department K9 Fund was awarded $7,500 to rebuild the Tell City Police Department K-9 Program. · Tell City Regional Arts Association was awarded $1,600 to continue to provide camps to the community. · The Salvation Army - Indiana Divisional Headquarters was awarded $2,500 to provide immediate financial support to Perry County residents who are unable to meet basic needs. · Young Women LEAD was awarded $3,000 to provide a leadership event for area high school girls focused on leadership, education and personal development. These grants were made possible by generous donors who created community good or field of interest funds with the Perry County Community Foundation. · Arnold Mulzer Fund for the Community Good · Boerste-Efinger-Hayden Fund · Cardinal-Smith-Etienne Fund · For Good, Forever Advisory Board Fund · Friends of Perry County Fund · German American Bancorp Community Fund- Perry · N&N Mulzer Unrestricted Fund · TCB Bank/ Fifth Third Bank Perry County Fund · The Don and Harriet Neill Lasting Difference Fund · Dawn Star, Elbert and Marilyn Ewing Environmental Fund · Goble-Kleeman Fund for Young Children · Joseph L. and Alene M. Dauby Endowment Fund · Mary Jane Malone Endowment Fund · Perry County Arts Council Promoting the Arts Fund · Perry County Children with Disabilities Fund · Perry County Power of Youth Endowment Fund · Sergeant Heather J. Glenn Memorial Fund for Perry County First Responders · Women's Fund of Perry County For more information, please contact Rachael Goldsberry, Regional Director of Development at 812.547.3176 or rgoldsberry@communityfoundationalliance.org.

This year, donors to the Perry County Community Foundation are once again making scholarship awards available through the Foundation’s Community Scholarship Program. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. “Donors have honored their loved ones, high schools, or professions by establishing scholarship funds through the Community Foundation,” says Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “We administer those scholarship funds established by individuals, families, and organizations to assist local students in pursuit of advanced education. Together, these scholarships make up our Community Scholarship Program.” Students may apply for one or more scholarships as long as they meet the particular eligibility requirements. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the Foundation’s website at perrycountycf.org/scholarships . Eligibility requirements and selection criteria are determined by donors and are posted on the website. Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process which may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The Perry County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Perry County – Alyssa Goffinet of Perry Central Junior-Senior High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “Alyssa’s involvement and dedication to her school and community were apparent in her application and interview. The nominating committee was honored to have the opportunity to meet her and recommend her for this life-changing opportunity,” said Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Perry County Community Foundation.  Alyssa is the daughter of Steven and Fannie Goffinet, of Saint Croix. Following graduation, Alyssa plans to pursue a degree in Secondary Education. In addition to excelling academically, Alyssa has been involved in a variety of school activities including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Educators Rising Club, Future Farmers of America, Art Club, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track & Field. Outside of academics, Alyssa devotes numerous hours to her church including volunteering with the food program, student ministry, and serves as a group leader for Bible Camp. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. In determining Perry County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar(s) nominees, consideration was given to academic performance, school and community activities and leadership role in activities, two essays, steps the applicant has taken to prepare for his/ her chosen career or educational path, special circumstances, and a finalist interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. “The Community Foundation was thoroughly pleased with the quality of the applications and the involvement of the applicants. Perry County is full of talented youth,” said Alvey. Scholarship award alternates were also announced. Erin Holtzman was named the first alternate and Cyrilla Sommer was named the second alternate. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

The Donna Fenn Literacy Fund, held by the Perry County Community Foundation, recently awarded a $3,805 grant to the Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation for the development of literacy skills programs for students at William Tell Elementary. The fund was established in memory of Donna Fenn by her husband, Doug; son Christian; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Thomas Liffick; and parents, Christian and Dorothy Nix. “The Donna Fenn Literacy Fund has brought books (and joy) to William Tell Elementary students since 2005. Annually and faithfully, the Donna Fenn Literacy Fund, through the Perry County Community Foundation, has given us the opportunity to purchase hundreds of books for the school library. Additionally, devices have been purchased to allow for electronic reading and reading resources have been purchased to support the research-based Science of Reading strategies for teaching reading foundational skills. This would make Donna, who had such a passion for teaching reading, so very happy.” said Mrs. Laura Noble, William Tell Elementary Principal.  Since 2005, the Donna Fenn Literacy Fund has provided support to the Tell City-Troy Township Schools with over $33,000 in grants annually.

The Perry County Community Foundation announces that the Community Good Grant cycle will no longer be a year-round cycle but will instead be an annual grant cycle. What does this mean for local nonprofits serving Perry County? The annual Community Good Grants cycle will open in September this year and close in October. In subsequent years, it will open in August and close in September. There are no changes to the eligibility or application process. It will be important for nonprofits to ensure their application is submitted completely on the Foundation’s website before the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. “As we navigate this substantial shift for our local nonprofits, our dedication remains unwavering to amplify this change across the entire county and provide steadfast support for their invaluable endeavors,” explained Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. This year’s important dates are: · Grant Cycle Opens: September 8 (Application available online at www.perrycountycf.org/community-good-grants-program ) · Deadline to Apply: October 23  The Community Good Grants program supports a variety of charitable purposes in Perry County. The grant cycle encompasses four different request levels: · Level 1: Requests of $500 or less · Level 2: Requests of $501 – $2,500 · Level 3: Requests of $2,501 – $9,999 · Level 4: Requests of $10,000 or more (contact us before beginning your application) Last fiscal year, the Perry County Community Foundation awarded $135,437 through the Community Good Grants Program. Moving to an annual grant cycle allows the staff and committee volunteers to focus on community engagement initiatives rather than continuously reviewing grants – allowing the committee to have a full view of community needs, and to approach giving with a unified lens. Community Good Grants are reviewed by a committee of community leaders under the local advisory board. They review all grant applications, conduct site visits to potential grantees, and deliberate on which organizations best serve the community’s greatest needs. These grants are made possible by generous donors who established community good or unrestricted funds with the Perry County Community Foundation.

The Perry County Community Foundation would like to recognize two advisory board members that recently completed their volunteer service on the county advisory board: Earla Williams and Joe Sisley. We extend a heartfelt appreciation for their service and dedication to making a lasting impact in our community.  The Community Foundation would like to welcome Rachel Granderson to the advisory board. This fiscal year’s advisory board also includes Dana Franzman (president), Tim Huber (vice president), Joan Hess (secretary), Patsy Alvey, Marty Kaiser, Rita Mahoney, Rachel Roccia, and Barry Stiles. Volunteer members of the advisory board play a vital role in the success of the Community Foundation. They focus on local asset development, learning about the community’s greatest needs and nonprofits that support those needs, and recommending grants and scholarships. "The accomplishment of our mission greatly depends on the active involvement of community members in our advisory board. Their dedicated volunteer work represents a continual and committed dedication of time, with the goal of ensuring that donations consistently result in a positive influence on the well-being of individuals living in Perry County." said advisory board president Dana Franzman. While the Perry County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, at least one county advisory board member serves as a county representative on the Alliance Board. This fiscal year's representatives are Patsy Alvey and Tim Huber. For more information about the Perry County Community Foundation activities, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/percommfoundation or visit www.perrycountycf.org .

The 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship (LECSP) application is now available in Perry County through the Perry County Community Foundation. The LECSP will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Perry County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Perry County through the Perry County Community Foundation, is open to all Indiana residents who: • graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2024 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2024; • intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and • meet the criteria specific to their local Community Foundation. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Perry County and apply for this scholarship by visiting https://www.perrycountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program . Applications must be completed and submitted by Monday, August 28, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic performance, school and community activities, leadership roles, and essays. Finalists for the scholarship will also be required to participate in an interview with the committee. One recipient and two alternates will be nominated by the Perry County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December. Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $486 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. The Perry County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer the LECSP for its 27 th year in Perry County. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to administer the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Perry County. This scholarship opportunity is truly life-changing for students,” says Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Perry County Community Foundation.

The Perry County Community Foundation recently presented Community Good Grants totaling $58,659.10 to nine organizations serving Perry County. These grants were made possible by the following endowment funds created to support our community’s greatest needs: · Arnold Mulzer Fund for the Community Good · Boerste-Efinger-Hayden Fund · Cardinal-Smith-Etienne Fund · For Good, Forever Advisory Board Fund · Friends of Perry County Fund · German American Bancorp Community Fund- Perry · Hoosier Hills Credit Union Better for Our Communities Endowment Fund- Perry · Joseph L. and Alene M. Dauby Endowment Fund · N&N Mulzer Unrestricted Fund · Perry County Power of Youth Endowment Fund · TCB Bank/ Fifth Third Bank Perry County Fund · Women’s Fund of Perry County Perry County 4-H Council was awarded $500 to provide hygiene supplies for needy teens at Perry Central and Cannelton schools. Junior Achievement of West Kentucky, Inc. was awarded $6,000 for the Soft Skills and Financial Literacy programs in Perry County which will deliver soft skills programs for high school students who will then hone those new skills through service learning in elementary classrooms; and $3,500 for all eighth-grade students in Perry County to receive the Work Readiness and Financial Empowerment program that allows students to discover future careers and the correlation between educational attainment and future financial stability. Leadership Perry County was awarded $15,000 to cover the cost of materials for a newly constructed shelter house at Castle Park. Perry County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $10,000 to cover expenses for Body Worn Cameras for the officers to wear. Chemo Buddies was awarded $3,300 to provide comfort kits to Perry County cancer patients. Youth First, Inc. was awarded $7,000 for Youth First Social Workers embedded in Perry County partner schools to equip students with the skills to build mental health resilience. Tell City Regional Arts Association was awarded $2,380 to provide materials and low-cost participant fee for Art Camp sessions. Perry County Public Library was awarded $9,000 to develop a digitized keyword searchable archive of the Perry County newspapers and other local historical documents. Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Inc. was awarded $1,979.10 to cover the cost of a kitchen over to be placed in the Emergency Shelter. These grants are made possible by generous donors that created Community Good or Field of Interest Funds with the Perry County Community Foundation.